Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or it's characters, that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Bleach or it's characters, that right belongs to Tite Kubo.

Author's Notes: I will not be posting the pairing until it is revealed in the story. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you toturn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.

They were all tired, sore, and to the point of collapsing. None of them had expected this when they'd been sent out on a Hollow Extermination Mission. But here was Division 11 wore out after almost three full weeks of constant fighting. It was odd that the Hollows were acting like they were. As if they were being controlled. Though there was nothing that was showing otherwise, a few other Divisions had come out and helped in rotations.

Weary eyes turned to those that were still out on the front lines battling. It was amazing to everyone in the back resting, being healed, or catching a short break to stuff their faces in the war-like situation that those four people were on a different level. A beast each and every one of them. Though this gave them a new appreciation for their newest and only female member, the petite raven-haired woman was out there holding her own. Hell, she had saved a few of them herself with that odd Kido first Shikai release form of her Zanpaku-to.

As they continued to watch, a sense of dread fell over them all. Something was moving towards the four people out there at a rapid speed. It felt sinister to their senses. Then there was a loud piercing scream before their vision was filled with a blinding, brilliant lilac light.

Ikkaku was concerned. They'd been at this for three weeks, having missed that magnificent Banquet that was supposed to be cooked by the whole of the Women's Association. Nope, it had been canceled when an emergency had been brought to their attention. Hollows were appearing in high numbers at the far edge of the Rukongai districts 90 through 100. Of course, it fell to the 11th Division to exterminate them. And it was an excellent chance to get spend some of the energy that had been pent up out, as well as see how Kagome faired.

Which was far better than they'd all thought. Kagome was ruthless. Each strike was precise, wasting little movement or energy. Her sword, even Kido based, was an extension of her person. Though when she only used that first form to heal those that were grievously wounded or near dead. In fact, he was sure that a few of them were dead.

It was something he'd look into later as he swung his spear out and stabbed another Hollow through the mask, killing it. Before glancing over to where Yumichika was fighting alongside Kagome. Only to have his eyes go wide as he watched as the world began to move in slow motion. His senses picked up a large evil Reiatsu as it appeared before Yumichika. Kagome had her back to him while finishing off another Hollow with her Zanpaku-to. Just to see her body go completely stiff as the color drained from her already pale face.

Then it happened spikes ruptured from the ground around them. Knocking Yumichika out of the way and piercing Kagome, who had looked over her shoulder at the person. He saw her mouth move as the blood from her being stabbed by one of those spikes in the stomach sprayed outwards in a crimson fountain. Then the sharp pained scream that escaped from her lips as a light seemed to explode around him. Washing over his person and blinding him.

Yumichika had been fighting next to Kagome one second and falling to the ground the next. He was proud of how long she had survived the last three weeks. She was made of tough stuff, proving that she belonged to the 11th Division. Though he was curious about why in the three weeks she had not released her Zanpakuto's second Shikai form. But that was not important at the moment. What was, was Kagome. She had a large earth-like spike through her gut as she looked at the Hollow, no creature, who was doing it. He could see the fear etched into her face as her mouth opened.

Unable to make out the name that she whispered before she screamed. And that was a sound he never wanted to hear ever again. It had his ears ringing as he saw a flicker of what looked to be light coming from the gaping hole in her stomach as spike began to crumble. Just to be replaced by a flash so brilliant, it caused his head to hurt as he slammed his eyes shut. His hands were coming up to shield his eyes further as they felt like they were burning even when they were squeezed shut.

His senses were going haywire. The thrill of battle was there, but something told him that it was wrong. Yes, the Hollows kept coming in droves. Their attack were coordinated somehow. But that was not what was wrong. He spun around when he felt it. A Reiatsu that was so dark and malicious that it had him even pausing. Though his body never stopped as he rushed towards were he saw Yumichika on the ground, and Kagome impaled on what looked like a jutting piece of earth, while a large, most definitely not Hollow, spider-like thing was looming over her.

Ripping off his eye-patch, Kenpachi flared his Reiatsu to its max as he felt Nozarashi tremble in anticipation of fighting a powerful opponent. But that was a plus; he felt anger and rage like when he fought the Quincy. One of his own was now seriously hurt, and he could see her blood run down her Shihakusho and onto the ground. Fueling him to rush forward as the strange creature lifted its head in his direction, looking at him from under what looked to be a baboon mask.

Then he heard it. The shrill scream of pain and utter torture before a pale purple light blinded him. It had his body going stiff and freezing where he stood. Though his Reiatsu tried to match the wavelength of it, he finally found something that overpowered it. But Kenpachi didn't care as he watched the creature, and all Hollows burst into what appeared to be a cloud of fine ash-like dust and be blown away on a phantasm breeze, just as Kagome's body fell backward toward the ground.

The moment the light faded, Kenpachi noted that his body felt light. His fatigue and wounds were all gone. Then he was moving forward once more, reaching the tiny woman just before she hit the ground. He saw that there was no wound where the spiked earth had gone through her. But she was pale, cold to the touch, and he saw a nasty scar on her left hip. She was making him curious about what just happened.

When movement from the corner of his eye had his head whipping around, there were her Zanpaku-to had fallen during that weird explosion of power sat a large white dog with a magenta crescent moon on its forehead. The way those golden eyes watched him, assessing, told him that this dog was more than it seemed. Carefully he picked up his unconscious subordinate and stood. His gaze was sweeping across both Ikkaku and Yumichika as they looked at his arms. Their faces were telling him what they were feeling.

"Say nothing about that light to anyone, understood. I do not want Kagome to be taken to the holding cells, or worse the Central Underground Prison," He said.

When he got the confirmation nod from them, he started running — calling out orders to withdraw and head back to Seireitei.

Shunsui and the other Captain's with their respective Lieutenants were all in the meeting room. It had taken longer than they had thought. And a few times they'd all sent out some replacement units to help the 11th Division in suppressing the Hollows that seemed oddly coordinated. And none of them wanted to have another issue as they had had with the Arrancar. Which after touching base with Hecumundo, they had said that they had not sent any Hollows to attack them. They were even offering to help if they found them hard to deal with.

As one, they all went stiff where they sat, eyes wide as a brilliant lilac light filtered through the windows — washing over them in a wave of purity that was both soothing and painful at the same time. Not once had any of them encountered something like this before. And it was clear once the light vanished as quickly as it appeared that it had come from the where the Hollows were being fought.

It had unsettled them all as they shared a look of worry. That was something that even the eldest in the room had not felt in a very long time.

She was running — fear, no terror, motivating her limbs as pain coursed through her body. Images of her friends on the battlefield, tired, close to dying, and she was helpless. Unable to do anything because all she was good at was firing a bow and arrow haphazardly, and detecting shards. That was the only reason 'he' kept her. Her friends, she felt tolerated her.

Ever since Kikyo had joined the troupe, she felt her place was threatened. Did they not need her anymore? Was she that useless? What did she have to offer, but a sub-par, copied Reiki, that belonged to Kikyo. Her eyes felt heavy as she continued to run. She would do what it took, any cost at all to help them. Save them. She was really important to anyone, was she?

"Miko, stop that nonsense. Wake up," a deep voice rumbled.

Shaking her head and continuing, she would destroy Naraku by herself. Or at least disable him. He hated her. Wanted her dead. She could hurt him. She was able to find the Jewel shards. Purify them. But so was Kikyo, she was useless.

"Miko, this is a dream. It was planted in you to instill fear. That is the past, wake up," the deep voice rumbled again.

It had her briefly pausing before a new wave of terror washed over her. She was lying now on the blood-soaked battlefield. There around her were the broken bodies of her friends, her adopted son. And all she could see was the condemning looks in InuYasha's golden gaze while Kikyo stood next to him a cold sneer on her face.

"You are pathetic. Your lack of actions killed them all. What a waste of space," InuYasha said.

The soft sniff from Kikyo as she lifted her hand as she spoke, "You are nothing but a copy of me. A future self that will end now. Because a soul cannot exist twice in one timeline, give me my life back."

Despair filled her as a dark laugh echoed in the depths of her mind, causing her body to shudder and shake and closing her eyes as she felt her soul, where it was housed in her body. It was brilliant white with silver lacing through it. Kikyo was right, and she should just give it back. Reaching with what was left of her life force, Kagome grasped it and started to pull it from her body — feeling as it condensed down into a small round shape. The further she pulled it out, the more it condensed and turned into a familiar-looking little jewel.

"Kagome!"

At the sound of her name, she paused, blinked her eyes, just to have pain exploded through the right side of her face. This was not right. Glancing down at the small Jewel she held, her gaze lifted to look at InuYasha and Kikyo. The latter who had returned to hell. The former had accepted her as she was before she made her wish. Her wish for the Jewel not to exist, thus she didn't exist in the Nigenkai... So, how was she back in the last battle?

Three long days they sat there watching her in the hospital bed of the 4th Division. Her heart rate was fluctuating to exceptionally fast to slowing to the point it almost stopped. There was no mistaking that Kagome was struggling to live. And as the heart monitor alarm went off, they watched as Kenpachi stood up, looming over the bed. His dark green eyes were boring into her.

Everyone gathered was shocked as he drew his hand back, bellowing her name, and smacked her face hard. This had a low woofing coming from the overly large white dog that was curled up at the end of Kagome's hospital bed. No one had been able to remove the damn animal, and he would snap and snarl at them. Only for them to find out from his mouth, acidic saliva would drip at the damn creatures whim.

When asked about it, Kenpachi, Ikkaku, and Yumichika said it appeared on the battlefield after the light vanished. None of them knew much about the light. And all that anyone could get from them was that they wanted Kagome to wake up. That and the fact that the three were overly protective of the tiny woman, more so than before.

Several people had speculated (well away from their hearing range) that it would be best if Kagome were transferred to another Division. Because the tiny woman had made an impression on almost everybody in the Gotei 13 in the eight months, she'd been active. Not to mention her six years at the Academy. She was easy to be around and get along with. A friendly smile, patience to listen to anyone's woes. And her unique talents in various areas. Kagome was a promising Shinigami. One that enhanced the people she was with based on needs.

And they had all been amazed at learning how she had corralled and straightened up the whole of the 11th Division. It was amazing. Of course, her temper let her fit right on in there after they'd seen her put a fellow shinigami into a small crater in the middle of the Seireitei for making a disparaging comment about her Squadmates. Which, of course, Kenpachi had pointed out that she didn't tolerate that towards those she saw as her own, and the disciplinary charges had been dismissed.

"Ow..."

The thoughts of all those gathered were cut off by the soft exclamation of pain. Drawing their gazes to the hospital, where they witnessed Kagome opened her blue eyes and look confusedly around the room. Before letting it settle on Kenpachi. Who now had Ikkaku and Yumichika standing beside him at the bed.

"Whu uf the shift mah fucles fah?" she said around a slightly swollen cheek as she glared up at the man she called Captain.

This had everyone in attendance, sweat dropping and laughing aloud at the absurdness of the whole situation. Letting them all know Kagome would eventually be okay.

"Because you wouldn't make your fucking mind up midget about living or dying. So, I figured I'd slap some sense into you," Kenpachi started with a small smirk on his face, as his singular green eyes narrowed and glinted.

This had everyone groaning aloud as Isane told them all to leave that they could visit and question her later.

TBC!